Almond tree

ABSTRACT

An almond tree which is dense, large, vigorous, spreading in branching habit, abundantly foliated with medium size, lanceolate leaves having a finely serrate margin and alternate, globose glands, blooms heavy to very heavy with white flowers, and is a regular bearer, with heavy-to-medium productivity, of medium size, heart-shaped, non-gummy nuts having medium size, sweet-flavored kernels.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

1. Field of the Invention

In the course of the maintenance of an almond orchard on my ranchlocated near Winton, Merced County, Calif., I frequent such orchard forthe purpose of inspection, cultivation, and irrigation, and--during thecourse of such activities--I am aware of the condition of the trees andrecognize any other-than-normal growth characteristics of them. It wasunder such conditions that the present variety of almond tree wasdiscovered by me.

2. Classification of the Variety

The present new and distinct variety of almond tree is embraced by Class30, Plants, of the U.S. Patent Office Manual of Classification.

3. Prior Varieties

Among the existent varieties of almond tree which are known to me, andmentioned herein, are Nonpareil (unpatented), Mission (unpatented), andMerced (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,730).

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of almond tree was discovered by me in an area of myranch near the almond orchard, located as aforesaid, as one of two treetrunks--of a chance seedling--emergent from the ground. Upon close andcontinued observation of such one tree trunk, I confirmed my initialrealization that it, and its crop, had certain novel and distinctivecharacteristics in comparison to the other tree trunk and knownvarieties such as the Nonpareil, Mission, and Merced. I, therefore,determined to effect asexual reproduction of the variety, andpotentially for commercial growing.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of almond tree was asexually reproduced by me, bybudding, on my ranch located as aforesaid; such reproductions havingbeen successful, and, in maturity, ran true in all respects to said onetrunk of such chance seedling.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The herein-claimed variety of almond tree is--characteristically--dense,large, vigorous, spreading in branching habit, abundantly foliated withmedium size, lanceolate leaves having a finely serrate margin andalternate, globose glands, blooms heavy to very heavy with whiteflowers, and is a regular bearer, with heavy-to-medium productivity, ofmedium size, heart-shaped, non-gummy nuts having medium size,sweet-flavored kernels.

The herein-claimed variety of almond tree is further, and particularly,characterized by blooming with the Nonpareil and Merced, and harvestingwith the Merced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing is an illustration, by photographic reproduction in color,of twigs with leaves and nuts in hull and--separately--nuts in hull,nuts out of hull, and kernels out of shell.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The botanical details of this new and distinct variety of almondtree--with color definitions (except those in common color terms)referenced to Maerz and Paul Dictionary of Color (First Edition)--are asfollows:

Tree:

Density.--Dense.

Size.--Large.

Vigor.--Vigorous.

Trunk:

Form.--Stocky.

Texture.--Medium.

Branches:

Form.--Slender.

Texture.--Smooth.

Lenticels.--Few.

Branching habit.--Spreading.

Color.--New wood: green. Mature wood: dull brown.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Leaves:

Size (Mature).--Medium. Average length -- 4". Average width -- 1".

Shape.--Lanceolate. Acutely pointed.

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Smooth.

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Petiole.--Medium length.

Glands.--Average number -- 3. Alternate. Medium size. Globose. Red.Positioned on petiole.

Color.--Top side -- medium green (23-L-8). Under side -- lighter green(22-K-7).

Bloom:

Amount of bloom.--Heavy to very heavy.

Color.--White.

Blooming period.--Medium. Blooms with Nonpareil and Merced.

Crop:

Bearing.--Regular bearer.

Productivity.--Heavy to medium.

Distribution of nuts on tree.--Some in clusters on short spurs. Welldistributed.

Harvest period.--With Merced.

Tenacity.--Hangs well on tree. Normal to harvest. Normal to hull.

Hull:

Outer surface.--Smooth.

Pits.--Pitted.

Form.--Regular.

Thickness.--Thick.

Flesh.--Fleshy.

Suture.--Flat depressed.

Color.--Light green (21-K-6) with a silvery sheen.

Dehiscence.--Opens partially.

Splitting.--Along suture.

Nut:

Size.--Medium. Average length -- 11/4". Average width -- 1". Averagethickness -- 1/2". Average weight -- 12 per ounce.

Form.--Length/width: ovate -- heart-shaped. Width/thickness: medium.

Shell.--Hard -- medium. Thin. Smooth. Outer shell: hard. Crumbling. Somelargely missing. Some adhering to hull. Inner shell: hard. Medium seal.

Color.--Medium light brown (13-J-8).

Pits.--Few.

Base.--Square.

Stem scar.--Large.

Apex.--Sharp. Tip recurved.

Wing.--Broad. Thin. Tapered toward apex.

Inner surface.--Dark colored.

Ventral streak.--Light. Narrow. Point acute.

Percentage of kernel to nut.--65%.

Kernel:

Size.--Medium. Average length -- 1". Average width -- 5/8". Averagethickness -- 3/8". Average weight -- 16 per ounce.

Form.--Length/width: ovate. Width/thickness: medium.

Base.--Square.

Stem scar.--Small.

Apex.--Obtuse. Acuminate. Blunt. Tip recurved.

Texture.--Smooth. Furrowed.

Pellicle.--Thin.

Pubescence.--Smooth. Veined.

Color.--Medium light brown (14-K-11).

Number of doubles.--Few.

Defective kernels.--Blanks and deformed kernels on occasion.

Flavor.--Sweet.

Quality.--Very good.

Resistance to insects and diseases: No more susceptible than anycommercial variety under same growing conditions.

The almond tree and its nuts herein described may vary in slight detaildue to climatic and soil conditions under which the variety may begrown; the present description being of the variety as grown in theCentral Valley of California.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of almond tree, substantially asillustrated and described, particularly characterized by heart-shaped,non-gummy nuts having sweet-flavored kernels; and by blooming with theNonpareil and Merced, and harvesting with the Merced.